Self-propelled air-ship.



G. PUM.

SELF PROPELLED AIR SHIP.

APPLIOATION FILED AUG.16, 1907.

Patented Dec. 15,1908.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

jaw/aoz Qeorg 71 9x4772 G. PUM.

SELF PROPELLED AIR SHIP.

APPLICATION FILED we. 16, 1007.

906,559. Patented Dec. 15, 1908.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

pfZZor/ey I GEORG PUM, OF VIENNA, AUSTRIA-HUNGARY.

SELF-PROPELLED AIR-SHIP.

Specification of Letteis Patent. Application filed August is, 1907;Serial No. $88,833,

= Patented Dec. 15, 1908.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Gnono Pun, merchant,

subject of the Emperor of Austria-Hungary,

and residing at Vienna, in the Empire of Austria-Hungary, havinginvented certain new and useful Improvements in Self-PropelledAir-Ships, do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, andexact description of the same.

This invention relates to improvements in air ships of the selfpropelled type and is pdapted for use either with or without a baloon.

The invention relates more articularly to the propelling mechanism ancfone of its objects is to provide such mechanism which, if used inconnection with a balloon, will not only assist in maintaining andreaching the desired altitude but will in addition propel the ship inthe desired forward direction.

One of the special features of this invention consists in a propellingmechanism which is adjustable and which if adjusted for the purpose ofobtaining a forward movement will serve in such adjustment to alsoassist in the maintenance of the ship at-the desired altitude.

Another of the principal features consists in the provision of a framewhich is adjustably suspended from a balloon whereby the frame may bead'usted to the desired angle and wherein a bas et or car is supportedfrom said means and is maintained in its normal osition irrespective ofthe position of the rarne.

Other features of my invention will be more fully set forth inconnection with the accompanying drawings and will be more particularlyascertained and pointed out in and by the appended claims. a

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a view in side elevation illustrating anair ship embodying the main features of myinvention. Fig. 2 is asectional view on line AB of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a plan view'of one of thepropellers. Fi 4 is a plan view of another propeller.

Iiike characters 'of reference designate similar arts throughout thedifferent figures of the rawings.

\ The invention is illustrated in the specific embodiment shown inconnection with a balloon although-it will be understood that a balloonis not essential to a full realization of the advantages of theinvention. I

As shown the balloon is designatedat 1 .and'there is suspendedtherefrom-a support normal position.

which as shown coinprises a yoke 2 connectedwith the balloon oy flexiblemeans in the form of cords or ropesas illustrated.

A frame is indicated at 4 and conveniently said frame is s, own in theform of a ring whicll is movably mounted upon the support 2. Said framei has a cross section Wl110 as shown comprises a body portion 29 whichis bent to form lateral supporting flanges 30. In order to obtain therequisite adjustment ofthe frame 4 with respect to the yoke 2 the latteris provided with rollers 3 adapted to engage said flanges 30 and supportthe frame by such engagement in a manner clearly shown in Fig. 2. Saidflanges. 30 extend throu hout the circumference of the frame 4 and a soserve as a su ort for a car or cage 7. As illustrated in ig. 2 it willbe seen that said car or cage is rovided with a yoke 5 having rollersnot s own engaging said flanges 30 and servin by such engagement tosupport said car an permit relative movement of the frame 4 with respectthereto. In order to prevent such relative movement of the frame fromdisplacing the car 7 from its normal or desired position means areprovided for connecting said car which means are preferably secured tothe yoke 2. As shown said means consists of cables or r0 es 8 connectedwith theyoke 5 in any desira le manner at one end arid at their otherends with the yoke 2. Conveniently said cables or ropes S are dis osedwithin the channel or way 31 formed by said bed .flanges 30 al thoughthis disposition of the cables is not essential.

It will be seen from the foregoing that in combination with the balloonand the basket or cage 7 there is provided a frame which is movablyinterposed between said balloo'n and basket to support the latter fromthe former and that means are provided for preventin displacement of thebasket from its Means are provided for adjusting. the frame 4 relativelyto the balloon and basket and as shown said means is disposed in amanner to be accessible to the occupant of the basket. In' the specificembodiment shown a rack 25 is formed on each of the flanges 30 and saidrack as shown in Fig. 1 extends throughout a portion of the periphery ofsaid ring 4. Upon' the basket support 5 there is revolubly mounted ashaft 23 carrying gears 22 ada tedto mesh with said racks 25 as clearlys own in Fig. l and on the outer end of said shaft is mounted a crank 24which serves when turned by the occupant of the car to effect rotationof the ring 4 by reason of itsmovable mountingsor connectlons with theyokes or supports '2 and 5. In order to limit the adjusting movement ofthe frame 4 means are provided, preferably in the form of stops 26 whichare adapted for engagement with the gears 22.

' shown of su e with respect to each other.

In order to facilitate the flight of the ship when the same isbeingstarted from a pos1- tion of rest near the ground revolublesupports are provided and as shownsaid supports are in the form of legs28 which are connected with the frame 4 and are provided with wheelsadapted to engage the ground or other-surface supporting the shi priorto flight. These supports maintain t e cars 7 out of engagement with theground and in cases where the ascent is preceded by a slight lateralmovement of the ship these supports revent the car from dragging alongthe surace and avoid the resultant retarding influence of such action.

A rudder is rovided and as shown is mounted upon t e car 7 and consistsof an .extensibleor @bellows-like structure 27. A rudder controllingdevice is indicated at 32 and is disposed in a manner to be accessibleto the occupant of the car.

The propelling means for assisting in obtaining an ascending flight andwhich also mai'ntains the ship'at the desired altitude and of wheel 1Owiththe result that the velocity.

of the air current is increased, thereby correspondingly increasing theascending impelling action. The result of this construction. 1npracticehas made it ossible to materially reduce the size oft e balloonemployed thereby not only reducing first cost but ren- .dering the shimore wieldy and easily managed. In or er to prevent lateral escape ofthe air from the propeller whee s and to insure an efficient action ofthe wheel 10 upon the air current generated by wheel 9 means are,provided in the form of a band 14 which l surrounds the blades of thewheel 9.

Said band insures the formation ofa downwardly directed column or shaftof air toward wheel 10. Desirably wheel 10 is also provided with ,a bandwhich is indicated at 33 and which prevents lateral escape of the airuntil after Said wheel 10 has acted thereon. Means are also provided forpreventing lateral escape of ited volume of air which arrangement makesit possible to obtain a displacement of ai at a much greater velocitythan if the air were permitted to escape laterally.

One manner of mounting the wheels 9 and 10 is shown in the-drawings andconsists of.

two shafts one of which is convenientlyinithe form of a sleeve. Shaft Llis mounted at its upper end in a-bearing 34 in the frame 4. At

its lower end said shaft 11 is mounted in a bearing 36. Wheel 9 ismounted on shaft 11 and wheel 10 is mounted on sleeve 12. On the lowerend of sleeve 12 is mounted a gear 20 and on the lower end of shaft 11there is mounted a gear 21. A collar 37 is fi xedto shaft 11 and servesto maintain sleeve 12 at a definite longitudinal position on the shaft11. Wheels 19 and 39 are provided and are disposed in a manner tocooperate, or if gears are employed, to mesh with'wheels 20 and 21.Preferably gears 20 and 21 are of the same size as are also the gears 19and 39 whereby rotation of the latter will serve to rotate the former atan e ual speed thereby driving the wheels 9 an 10 at the same speed. Itwill be seen that the disposition of the gears is such that when ower isappliedto gears 19 and 39 to rotate the same inone direction the wheels9 and 10 will be rotated in opposite directions. Gears 19 and 39 aremounted upon shafts 17 and said shafts are journaled in bearings 18, asshown in Fig. 7

2, and said bearings are rigidly secured to the frame 4. Each shaft 17is desirably driven from a prime mover and as shown said rime movers areindicated at 16 and are pen ently supported in driving connection withthe shafts 17 so that said prime movers will at all times occu y avertical position and be maintained in living connection irrespective ofthe position to which the frame 4 is adjusted as will readily be seen byreference to Figs. 1 and 2.- To this end the bearings 18 are providedwith extensions 40 on which are loosely mounted hubs 41 to' whichbrackets 42 are secured. Said prime movers 16 are mounted on saidbrackets 42 and are provided with driving wheels 43 which may beconnected by belts to wheels 45 on shafts 17.

I claim:

1. An air ship comprising in combination, a balloon, an annular frameprovided with flanges, a roller connection between said balloon and theflanges of said frame, superposed propeller wheels, a. shaft for eachpropeller wheel, and means for imparting rotary motion to saidpropellers.

2. An air ship comprising in combination,

- port provide a balloon, an annular frame of U-shaped cross section(provided with flanges, a supwith rollers on which said flanges aremounted and which support is connected with the balloon, said annularframebeing provided with gear teeth on its lower portion and a basketsupported by said frame andprovided with inions meshin with said teethand means for rotating said pinions for changing the position of saidframe.

3. An air ship comprising in combination, a balloon, a support suspendedtherefrom and provided with rollers, an annular frame mounted on saidrollers, a basket provided with a support having rollers engaging saidframe, and ropes connecting said basket with said first mentionedsupport. I

4. An air ship comprising in combination, a balloon, a frame suspendedfrom said balloon, a basket sus ended from said frame, propellers mountein said frame, means for changing the position of said propellers withrespect to the balloon, and means preventing displacement of thebasketwith respect to the balloon.

5. An air ship comprisin in combination, two propellers, alined sha tsfor said proellers, a band for each propeller preventim ateral escape ofair therefrom, and a ban secured to one of said propellers to close thespace between the same.

6. An air ship comprising in combination, an adjustably suspendedannular frame, prime movers pivotally mounted in said frame, horizontalshafts in driving connection with said prime movers, and propellers indriving connection with said shafts.

7. An air ship provided with propelling means comprising two. ropeller,wheels arranged in co-acting relation and s aced apart from each other,both of said w eels being provided with means preventing lateral escapeof air, means preventing lateral esca e of air from the space betweensaid wheel s, and means for operatin said wheels.

8. An airship provided with propelling means comprising a plurality ofpropeller wheels arranged inco-acting relation and spaced apart fromeach other and provided with means preventing lateral esca e of air,means mounted on one of said w eeis'for preventing lateral escape of airbetween the same and the adjacent wheel, and means'for operating saidwheels, 3 means, mechanism forv changing the position of said means, aprime mover in driving connection with said means, and a pivotalmounting for said prime mover whereby the position of said means may bechanged with- 9. An airship provided With propelling .ried by said carout changing the position of said prime mover.

10. An airs provided with propelling means, comprising in combination,an adjustable frame, means for adjusting said frame,'a plurality of roeller wheels, shafts for said propeller w iee s, and a pivotally mountedprime mover mounted on said frame and in driving connection with saidwheels.

11. An airship provided with propelling means comprising in combination,an adjustable frame, means for adjusting said frame, a plurality ofpropeller wheels mounted on said frame, shafts for said wheels arrangedin co-axial relation, and a prime mover pivotally mounted on said frameand in drivmg engagement with said shafts.

12; An airs ip comprising in combination, a balloon, propellingmechanism movably suspended therefrom, and a car movably connected withsaid propelling mechanism.

13. An airship comprising in combination, a balloon, a frame movablysuspended therefrom, a car movably suspended from said frame, and meansfor maintaining said car in prescribed relation with respect to saidbalicon. I

14. An airshi provided with movably mounted ropel ing means, mechanismfor moving said means, a car movably mounted on said means, and devicespreventing displacement of said car uponmovement of said propellingmeans.

15. An airshi provided with movably mounted propel ing means, mechanismfor moving said means, a car movably mounted on said means and carryingsaid mechanism. 16. An airship comprising in combination, a balloon,propelling means movably suspended therefrom, a car'movably mounted onsaid propelling means, mechanism carfor varying the position of saidmeans, and devices limiting movement of said means.

. 17. An airship comprising in combination,

a balloon, propelling means movably sus-- pended therefrom, on said proelling means, by said car a car movably means, and means for maintainingsaid car 1n rescribed relation w1th respect to said bal oo'n.

mountedmechanism carried or moving said propelling means, deviceslimiting movement of said propelling.

In testimony whereof I aflirgmy signature 1 in presence of twowitnesses.

GEORG PUM.

Witnesses:

KARL TRAUNER, Rom. W. HEINGARTN'ER.

